Sub-project: Development/ modification of antistatic substances and application technology for obtaining antistatic SMC-materials

Funded project partners:
Zentrum für angewandte Forschung und Technologie e.V. (ZAFT) an der Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Dresden (FH), Institut für Holztechnologie Dresden gGmbH (IHD), OZF Oberflächenbeschichtungszentrum GmbH + Co (OZF), IBT InfraBioTech GmbH, (IBT), Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF)

Associated project partners:
DaimlerChrysler AG, Karl Wörwag Lack- und Farbenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG, Akzo Nobel Interpon, Jungheinrich AG, Polytec Composites GmbH (former Menzolit Fibron GmbH), Mitras Composites Systems GmbH

Funding:
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Running period:
11/2006 – 04/2009

IPF-Subproject/ part 2:
Characterization of the coatability of SMC materials more...

Contact:
Dr. Michaela Gedan-Smolka, Dr. Antje Taeger 

Components from fiber-reinforced plastics are increasingly used as construction components in cars, in mechanical and heating engineering as well as in electronic industry (e.g. switchboard).  In particular SMC (Sheet Moulding Compounds) and BMC (Bulk Moulding Compounds) offer ecological and economic advantages over steel regarding the weight reduction at comparable strength, together with a large  variability for design and efficient manufacturing (compression). In order to realize a uniform optical appearence  of multi-component constructions and a good weather-resistance,  the components have to be coated. In the automotive industry, an appropriate primer layer is applied first, in order to allow   a  subsequent coating unaffected from inhomogeneities of the substrate.

According to the state of the art, solvent based liquid lacquers are normally used. Up to now, the application of powder coating technology with its ecological and economic advantages is unresolved due to the insufficient conductivity of fiber-reinforced plastics, inhomogeneities at the surface and in the surface region as well as outgassing during the baking process.

The aim of the project is to develop an innovative technology for an efficient and environmentally compatible, high-quality coating process of fiber-reinforced plastics, without the need for manual finishing steps,  and drastically reduce  the failure rate.

At the IPF the interdisciplinary work is focussed on two subjects.

Subject 2 deals with the development of suitable materials and technologies in order to obtain  permanent antistatic SMC-materials as pre-requisites  for the application of powder coatings. The main goal is their effectiveness not depending on climate conditions (air humidity).

This shall be realized by two different ways: bulk-modification of SMC material as well as surface modification of SMC parts. In addition to chemical syntheses of appropriate antistatic substances, the bulk-modification is based upon investigations on reactivity and processing properties as well as rheological parameters of selected commercial SMC materials.

Resulting from the development of new materials, evaluated analytical methods and technological solutions, a qualitatively high-class smooth surface of coated SMC-parts along with an environmentally friendly coating technology, e.g. powder coating, is  expected.